Iliad - Public domain English translationAchilles drives half the Trojans back towards their city; the other half are in the Xanthus River. Achilles leaps into it, stabbing Trojans with his sword. After tiring, he rounds up 12 young Trojans, ties them up and sends them back to the ships as blood price for Patroclus. He then returns to slaughtering. First he kills Priam's son Lycaon. One of his other victims is a grandson of the Axius River and leader of the Paeonians. He then goes after the other Paeonians, killing in a blur. The Xanthus River takes on human form and tells Achilles to stop. He doesn't want all the butchery in the river. Achilles addresses him and says he will obey, but will keep killing on land. The river then yells to Apollo to protect the Trojans. Achilles hears this, and charges against the river, which churns and raises waves. Achilles is in a fight with the river that he can't win alone; nor can he escape, no matter how swift a runner. Achilles addresses Zeus saying he is going to die and would much rather be killed by Hector than like a common pig boy swept up by a river.
Poseidon and Athena hear Achilles and assure him he won't die in the river because they are with him. Poseidon says he should drive all the Trojans back into their city and not stop killing until he has killed Hector. When that happens, Achilles must return to the ships [sounds like the warning Achilles gave Patroclus]. With divine help, Achilles can now outrun the river. Xanthus calls to brother, the river Simois for help. Hera fears for Achilles and summons Hephaestus whom she thinks is an equal of the swirling Xanthus.
Hera says she will drive the winds of the west and south while Hephaestus is to explode in a burst of flame. Hephaestus burns the flame, cremating the corpses and heads to the rive, burning the plants along the river banks. Xanthus begs him to stop, but Hephaestus obeys his mother, so Xanthus turns to Hera, who hears his pleas and stops her son.
Zeus hears the commotion and laughs at the conflict among the gods. Ares and Athena then fight. Athena lays Ares low with a boundary stone. He sprawls out over 7 acres until Aphrodite comes to lead him away. Hera tells Athena to go after them. Poseidon goes after Apollo. He offers Apollo the first shot and wonders why Apollo is fighting for the Trojans after the trouble they shared in Troy at the hands of Laomedon.
Apollo says it's foolish to fight for the sake of mortals. He leaves. Artemis scolds him and calls him spineless. Hera then upbraids Artemis and boxes her ears. Artemis leaves in tears. Hermes tells Leto she can claim she beat him, if she likes, but he will not fight against her. Leto gathers the dropped archery equipment of her daughter, Artemis, who has gone crying to papa Zeus. She wails that Hera has beaten her.
Apollo enters Troy. He is worried that the Greeks, against fate, will break down the god-built walls of Troy.
Achilles continues to slaughter. King Priam watches from the wall. He orders the gates be opened to the routed troops.
Apollo races to meet Achilles, so the Trojans can use the distraction to get inside the walls. Apollo drives Prince Agenor towards the Greeks. Agenor decides to meet Achilles; he challenges him, and throws a spear that hits Achilles' shin, but on the protective greaves. Achilles leaps at Agenor, but Apollo blocks him, whirling Agenor away in a mist. Apollo assumes Agenor's shape and runs out into the field luring Achilles and giving the routed Trojans time to enter the walls of their city.
